Process for producing magnesium alloys

Abstract

Process for producing a magnesium alloy which comprises: reducing magnesium oxide with a carbonaceous substance at high temperatures; rapidly cooling the resultant reaction product in an inert atmosphere to obtain powder magnesium; mixing the reaction product with a powder metal to be alloyed therewith during or after the rapid cooling; and subjecting the mixture to heat treatment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Process for producing a magnesium alloy which comprises the steps of: (a) reducing magnesium oxide with a carbonaceous substance at high temperature to form a gaseous reaction product comprising gaseous magnesium,   (b) rapidly gas cooling said gaseous reaction product with a cooling gas in an amount of at least 10 times the amount of said gaseous reaction product in an inert atmosphere containing metal powder of at least one of aluminum, copper, nickel, iron, silicon, or alloys thereof,   (c) condensing the gaseous magnesium on the surface of said metal powder, and   (d) subjecting the condensed product of step (c) to heat treatment.   
     
     
       2. Process according to claim 1 in which the reaction product is rapidly cooled to 400° C. or below. 
     
     
       3. Process according to claim 1 wherein the cooling gas is used in an amount 20 to 60 times the amount of the gaseous reaction product. 
     
     
       4. Process according to claim 1 in which the metal to be alloyed with the reaction product is mixed therewith before or during the rapid cooling. 
     
     
       5. Process according to claim 4 in which the reaction product to be alloyed with the powder metal is not larger than 10μ. 
     
     
       6. Process according to claim 4 wherein the alloying metal is mixed with the magnesium before the rapid cooling. 
     
     
       7. Process according to claim 4 wherein the alloying metal is mixed with the magnesium during the rapid cooling.